ONEIDA >> The Oneida Common Council took the first step of many at its meeting Tuesday night by unanimously approving the rezoning of a nearly 11 acre parcel in the city's fifth ward to allow for the potential development of townhomes.

Rezoning was the first step M.E.I.D. Construction had to take to initiate the project. Because the 10.76 acre property, situated between Fitch and West Elm streets, is currently in a manufacturing industrial zone that does not allow for the construction of residential structures, the company requested that the city change its zoning to agricultural. That request was granted by the council.

While the public was silent for a public hearing on the decision, several residents commented as the council considered the change.

Nicole Coleman, of Fitch Street, questioned whether there would be an inequity in tax assessments between the proposed homes and already existing homes in her neighborhood, including hers, which is within a manufacturing industrial zone. Ward 1 Councilman Brahim Zogby had similar concerns when the project was initially proposed but City Planning Director Cassie Rose said properties are assessed based on their use, not zone. So despite being in different zones, two homes will be assessed using the same criteria. The tax base for each zone remains the same but, for example, farm land would be valued differently than a home.

Coleman also had concerns about where the entrance to the proposed project would be and that more vehicles coming in and out of the area would make the already fast-paced street worse. Should the city allow for the project to move forward, Coleman said she may consider leaving the city.

"The more people, the more problems," she said of the neighborhood.

Ward 5 Councilman Jim Chamberlain had received informal comments from residents in his ward who were concerned that the proposed project would turn into more low-income housing. From the preliminary ideas put forth already, Chamberlain said the project is the exact opposite of that.

Chamberlain also addressed concerned that residents in the neighborhood had about the development requiring an extension of the city's sewer system, a move that may force them into tying into the system. He said that will not happen; the plan, so far, is to require the new development to pump any waste up the street to the system there.

The Planning Commission was asked by the council for its opinion on the zone change and returned positive feedback.

"The Planning Commission feels like it would be a benefit to that neighborhood and the city," Rose said.

Issues concerning the specifics of the project should be directed toward the Planning Commission, who will have the ultimate say. City Attorney Nadine Bell clarified that the council's role Tuesday was simply to decide on zoning.

Todd Schall, an owner of M.E.I.D. said the project is still in the very basic planning stages. Without a clear idea of what kind of homes will be built, he said many will be for sale while some may be condominiums.

"We're trying to do what's best for the tax base and to grow the city," he said.

While the Planning Commission will careful dissect the impact of that growth, Acting Mayor Max Smith said "we have to grow the city if we're going to move forward as a city and maintain ourselves."

In other business, the council approved:

The purchasing agent to advertise bids for the water shop roof replacement capital project and bids for caustic soda.

Budget transfers from contingency to cover the cost of taxes and other expenses related to the acquisition of property for taxes, and from sewer contingency to cover the cost of a subcontractor for the Mott Street sanitary sewer replacement project.

The city engineer to proceed with the street maintenance annual paving program in the amount of $214,943.

The council also met in executive session to discuss collective bargaining negotiations, the proposed sale or lease or real property and pending litigation.